Microsoft Lumia 640 XL hands-on: Big brute packs in Zeiss lens

Although we're still waiting for a new flagship Windows Phone to sail Microsoft Devices into the Windows 10 future, the Lumia 640 XL is an interesting new launch, announced today at MWC in Barcelona.

With a 5.7-inch display it's sitting in phablet territory, so it sort of updates the Lumia 1320. That device took Windows Phone big, but the 6-inch display was a little soft given the 1280 x 720 resolution.

The Lumia 640 XL still has the 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, but at 5.7 inches you get 259ppi. Yes, that's on the low side for this size of device considering that full HD and Quad HD devices rule the roost here.

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But the XL only costs €189 for the 3G version so that's a lot of display for your money.

It's relation to the 640 really comes from the internal hardware that they share. Both have a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, with support for microSD expansion.

In the hand the experience flicking through Windows Phone 8.1 is pretty similar across the 640 and the 640 XL, but there's a difference in the feel of the device we handled.

The white has a matte texture, which lends it a more premium quality. Sure, it's still a polycarbonate clip-on back, but the finish isn't going to get all smeary like the 640.

The casing also offers more grip, which is important on a device of this size.

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But then there's the Zeiss optics on the rear, sitting in front of a 13-megapixel sensor and a 5-megapixel camera on the front. That's quite a distinction between the XL and it's smaller 640 brother.

The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL measures 157.9 x 81.5 x 9mm and weighs 171g. It will be available in single and dual SIM versions, both 3G and LTE. There's also a 3000mAh battery.

There's no word on availability, but the Lumia 640 XL could be a popular choice for those looking for a Windows phablet with what looks like a strong camera.